A Focus On Team BMC Pro Cycling
So when was the last time you got to ride with two world road champions, and one US road champion at the same time? Well, for me this dream come true happened on January 27th, 2010 at the Team BMC Pro Cycling training camp media day.
Bicycle.net was invited to the training camp to meet the team, interview the riders and staff members, take some photo’s, and get a good understanding of the BMC team’s philosophy. But the real event happened over a 75 minute ride in which we, the media, were able to hop on a BMC Pro Machine and ride with the team on what could only be loosely classified as a recovery ride.
With everyone all kitted out and ready to go on their BMC loaners, we were all warned, and rightly so, to stay at the back of the group as to not get in the way of the big guns. But with no more than 10 or 15 minutes under our saddles I could not resist the draw to casually roll up to where Cadel Evans (2009 World Road Champion), Alessandro Ballan (2008 World Road Champion), and none other than Big George Hincapie (2009 USA Road Champion) were riding. Now my position next to Champs may have only lasted 5 minutes, but damn, if it did not put a permanent smile on face for the rest of the day. After this incredible experience we got back to the hotel, got cleaned up and got back to business.
The one thing that is impossible not to notice is that the BMC Pro Cycling team means business. Whether you are looking at their roster, or their management, or their equipment, you are looking at excellence. Without question they intend to win, and win often.
THE ROSTER
The last time any team had the most recent two world road champions, and the current US road champion at the same time, was, well never. The fact that BMC Pro Cycling pulled this off is nothing short of amazing. With the win at Worlds that Cadel Evans had, he has to be considered as one of the favorites for a podium at the Tour de France. He proved that he can attack, and that he can win while being aggressive. Give him the support of Ballan and Hincapie, who both seem very comfortable with their new team and you have some serious grand tour fire power.
Cadel Evans looked happy, comfortable, and at home with his new team. And the team is ecstatic that they have Cadel. Cadel stated that “Team BMC is an open minded team, they are leaders in technology and training, they are open to new ideas”. Evans is proud to be on this team and “he believes it is more important to have quality riders, than a large quantity of riders”. When we asked Cadel how important it is for him to go to the Tour de France he believes “that if we deserve to go, then we deserve to get an invite”.
George Hincapie made a big move leaving Team HTC-Columbia to come to BMC Pro Cycling, and it seemed that there was a lot of interest as to why he made the move. Hincapie was quick to point out that “it was a tough decision, but he was made a great offer by Jim Ochowicz (Team President) and the passion for the sport and the Team BMC, plus for my company Hincapie Sports was very appealing to me”. As expected, George Hincapie believes “that winning Paris-Roubaix is the most important thing this season”.
The Management
With Jim Ochowicz (President) and John Lelangue (Chief Sports Director) you have the foundation for a powerhouse management team. They have proven successful track records that show no signs of letting up. We asked Lelangue if anything changes with addition of Evans, Ballan, and Hincapie, and quickly replied “no nothing, we know what we are doing, and we just need to keep doing it”. The confidence that the management has in their riders is obvious, and you can tell the riders know it by how they talk about their comfort level with the team.
The Conclusion
It is impossible to walk away from spending even just a day with Team BMC Pro Cycling and not be impressed. They are as professional a team as you can find. They plan on winning. And they expect to win on the world’s biggest cycling stages. We for one are looking forward to seeing them in action throughout the 2010 season
Riders
Alessandro Ballan (Italy)
Chris Barton (United States of America)
Chad Beyer (United States of America)
Brent Bookwalter (United States of America)
Marcus Burghardt (Germany)
Cadel Evans (Australia)
Mathias Frank (Switzerland)
Thomas Frei (Switzerland)
George Hincapie (United States of America)
Martin Kohler (Switzerland)
Alexander Kristoff (Norway)
Karsten Kroon (Netherlands)
Jeff Louder (United States of America)
Alex Moos (Switzerland)
Steve Morabito (Switzerland)
John Murphy (United States of America)
Scott Nydam (United States of America)
Mauro Santambrogio (Italy)
Michael Schär (Switzerland)
Florian Stalder (Switzerland)
Jackson Stewart (United States of America)
Danilo Wyss (Switzerland)
Simon Zahner (Switerland)
Under 23 Team Members
Chris Butler (United States of America)
Cole House (United States of America)
Larry Warbasse (United States of America)
Management
Jim Ochowicz (United States of America), President / Co-Owner
Andy Rihs (Switzerland), Sponsor / Co-Owner
Gavin Chilcott (United States of America), General Team Manager
Herbi Baechler (Switzerland), Technical Director
Cindy Buckman (United States of America), Administration
Georges Luechinger (Principality of Liechtenstein) PR/Media Officer
Sean Weide (United States of America), US PR Agent
Sports Directors
John Lelangue (Belgium) Chief Sports Director
Fabio Baldato (Italy), Assistant Sports Director
Noel Dejonckheere (Belgium), Assistant Sports Director / Europe Operations Manager
Jacques Michaud (France), Assistant Sports Director
René Savary (Switzerland), Assistant Sports Director
Mike Sayers (United States of America), Assistant Sports Director
Medical Team
Max Testa (Italy), Chief Medical Officer
Eric Heiden (United States of America), Physician
Scott Major (United States of America), Physician
Giovanni Ruffini (Italy), Physician
Dario Spinelli (Italy), Physician
Mechanical Team
Ian Sherburne (United States of America), Chief Mechanic
Kevin Grove (United States of America), Mechanic
Ronald Ruymen (Belgium), Mechanic
Andy Stone (United States of America), Mechanic
Nick Vandecauter (Belgium), Mechanic
Care Team
Freddy Viaene (Belgium), Chief Soigneur
Eddy De Groote (Belgium), Soigneur
Kaycee Evans (United States of America), Soigneur
Graeme McCallum (Republic of South Africa), Soigneur
Jeremiah Ranegar (United States of America), Soigneur
Trudy Rebsamen (United States of America), Soigneur
David Bombeke (Belgium), Physical Therapist
Francis Bur (France), Bus Driver
Support Personnel
Luis Carneiro (Portugal), Mechanic
Stefano Cattai (Italy), BMC Company
Mike Hürlimann (Switzerland), CEO BMC Company
Carrie Needham (United States of America), Assistant Chief Medical Officer
Rolf Singenberger (Switzerland), BMC Company
Michèle Tanner (Switzerland), BMC Company
SPONSORS
BMC
Easton
Bell
Hincapie Sportswear
Selle Italia
Speedplay
Continental
Swissstop
Ozone Elite
Park Tool
Thule
Oakley
1st Endurance
Campagnola
Motorex
Elite
Categories: Features, Road
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BMC Working Well
Great article! I went to the Renaissance on Thursday with my 1 year old, to get some photos and check out the steeds. I did get in photos w/ George and Cadel, and took numerous photos of the bikes, and training ride (I live 5 min. from the hotel, and being an avid cyclist in the area knew the route, and took photos at 3 or 4 locations). I was very excited to meet George and Cadel, and I was actually surprised what a nice guy Cadel is! Last year we had Team Saxo Bank, Rock Racing and Cervelo test staying in Westlake a few weeks before the ToC, and I actually rode with Rock Racing. I can imagine how exciting it was to ride with BMC, as it was amazing just being around them and seeing them train. Thanks, Jeff